Functional House Planning for Retirees

They’ve been referred to as the Golden Years, the years after the familiar sounds of the alarm clock beckoned you away from home into the world of employment. These are the quiet years, the season of life to settle in after the children have moved on.

Now that you are an empty-nester, a retiree, or a senior citizen, you have a blank canvas to plan your own spot of refuge, a place that brings safety, comfort, and happiness for many years to come. Building a new home as a retiree can seem like an overwhelming undertaking, but when you choose a custom builder, anything you wish can be incorporated into your ideal retirement home to make it completely functional, just for you.

Here are a few of the more common features retirees are drawn to in a custom home:

• Single story floor plans that eliminate the necessity of climbing stairs.
• Empty-nesters typically choose a home with a master bedroom and a guest suite, in addition to a den or an office.
• Two-car garages with a space for a golf cart is also a popular feature in retirement communities. If they don’t use the space for a golf cart, it can always be used for a workshop or hobby area.
• Formal spaces are generally eliminated in the empty-nester home, with more focus on the open concept of the great room and kitchen & dining area that will open to a low-maintenance outdoor living area, deck or golf course, lake, or anything visually pleasant.
• A larger sized great room is the choice of many retirees who prefer to entertain at home and not go out.
  
• Plans for the master bath tend to be spacious with plenty of maneuvering room in the event a wheelchair is needed. The large jacuzzi tub has been replaced by a luxurious shower with seating and other safety features.
• Less square footage is generally more desirable than a large, multiple bedroom house. When budgets are tight, less space equals less upkeep and lower utility bills.

When building that retirement home, you may choose to appoint it in a way that allows you to stay in it for as long as possible, with specially designed safety and easy living features. According to a 2010 study by the AARP,  89% of retirees want to remain in their own home as long as possible, as opposed to moving into an assisted living facility.

Builders have been steadily meeting this demand with a design feature called “age-in-place,” which incorporates universal access features into a senior’s home that ease the transition of aging. Some of these features include step-less entryways, seating in the shower, four-foot wide hallways and step-less showers.

As your Louisville custom home builder, PL Lyons can create a custom home design plan that fits your needs, no matter what stage of life you are in. For more information on “age-in-place” options for your home, or how a custom home builder can build your dream,contact us and we will connect with you promptly.